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General Information

The District Award of Merit is a council award presented by districts in the same manner that the Silver Beaver is a national award presented by councils.

The award is available to Scouters who render service of an outstanding nature at the district level.

The award is made available annually on the basis of 1 for each 25 traditional units or fraction thereof. The district need not present all the awards to which it is entitled each year.

It is not appropriate to nominate a Scouter who has already received this award.

A professional Scouter or other council employee may not receive this award based on employment service. However, a professional
Scouter or employee who also serves as a volunteer Scouter may be eligible, based on volunteer service.

Requirements

2. A nominee must have rendered noteworthy service to youth in Scouting, outside Scouting, or both.

Note - The nature and value of “noteworthy service to youth” may consist of a single plan or decisions that contributed vitally to the lives of large numbers of youth or it may have been given to a small group over an extended period of time.

3. Consideration must be given to the nominee’s Scouting position and the corresponding opportunity to render outstanding service beyond the expectations of that Scouting position.

4. The nominee’s attitude toward and cooperation with the district and/or council is to be taken into consideration.

5. Nominations cannot be considered for posthumous awards.

Procedure

1. Annually, district chairmen will appoint a temporary special District Award of Merit committee of not more than five persons who will consider all candidates and make recommendations of those to receive the award to the council through the Scout executive.

2. The Scout executive will inform the district chairman of those nominations approved by the council committee.

3. The following procedure is suggested for such presentation ceremonies:

a. The recipient and spouse should be in attendance at the annual meeting or recognition dinner.

b. A district and/or council officer should explain the award and its significance.

c. Eagle Scouts or Silver Award Venturers should be asked to escort the recipients to a place of honor at the head table or on stage.

d. A suitable citation for each recipient should be read indicating what each has done in Scouting.

e. The award (certificate, No. 33719; plaque, No. 17565; and lapel pin, No. 17551) may be presented at this time with appropriate congratulations.

f. The only uniform insignia which accompanies this award is an embroidered overhand knot, No. 05013.

g. A group picture may be taken for use in neighborhood or community newspapers (district responsibility).

Nomination

Distinguished Service Awards

The Boy Scouts of America recognizes the need to acknowledge the invaluable services that men and women render to youth. Of the millions of registered adult volunteers in Scouting, only a select few are presented distinguished service awards at these level: